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Devon CEO John Richels sworn in as U.S. citizen

Devon Energy Corp.'s John Richels took the oath of citizenship Friday to become a U.S. citizen.

FROM STAFF REPORTS | Published: February 23, 2013 Comment on this article

Devon Energy Corp. CEO John Richels is officially a U.S. citizen after close to a decade living in Oklahoma City.

Richels and his wife, Charlotte, were among 102 people from 32 countries sworn in as U.S. citizens Friday at the federal courthouse in Oklahoma City. Both are natives of Canada.

photo - John Richels, Devon Energy Corp. CEO, speaks Friday at a naturalization ceremony at the federal courthouse in Oklahoma City as he and 101 others were sworn in as U.S. citizens. Photo by Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman

John Richels, Devon Energy Corp. CEO, speaks Friday at a naturalization ceremony at the federal courthouse in Oklahoma City as he and 101 others were sworn in as U.S. citizens. Photo by Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman

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Richels also was the guest speaker at Friday's naturalization ceremony, where participants took the oath of citizenship.

Richels, 61, joined Devon in 1998 when the Oklahoma City-based oil and natural gas company acquired Canada's Northstar Energy Corp., where he had been executive vice president and chief operating officer.

CEO in Canada

Richels served as CEO of Devon's Canadian subsidiary until he moved to Oklahoma City after being named the company's president in January 2004. He was named to Devon's board in 2007.

Richels added the title of chief executive in June 2010, succeeding Larry Nichols.